Tube pointing apparatus



sheet of 2 Qs, w-

F. E. HALSTEAD ET Al- TUBE POINTING APPARATUS April 8, 1969 Filed April 27, 1965 April 8, 1969 F. E. HALSTEAD x-:T AL 3,436,949

TUBE POINT ING APPARATUS Filed April 27. 1965 INVENTORS E. HALS TEAD and E GE AMITCHELL meirA'rIQRNE Y US. Cl. '72-402 7 Ciaims ABSTRACT 0F THE DESCLOSURE Apparatus for pointing the ends of tubing, and more particularly to improvements in apparatus for pointing the ends of tubing wherein `cooperating mo-vable and stationary dies collapse and compact the end portion of the tubing in a single stroke.

As is known, the diameter and wall thickness of tubing may be reduced by drawing the tubing over a stationary mandrel and through a drawing die of smaller diameter. Normally, multiple drawing operations are required in order to produce a tubing having the desired outer diameter and wall thickness. That is to say, the original tube is drawn through a plurality of successively smaller drawing dies. Consequently, the diameter of the end portion of a tube must be made smaller than the inner diameter of the drawing die. Reducing the end to a smaller diameter has come to be known as pointingf Various methods have been devised to make the point, the most common of which is rotary swinging. This process is relatively slow; and large shock forces are required to perform the pointing operation, causing high maintenance on the dies, machine operator fatigue, noise to the operator and the surrounding area; and there are other disadvantages which the users of such machines have tried to eliminate.

To overcome the disadvantages of the rotary swaging process, tube pointing apparatus has been devised wherein the tube walls are collapsed and folded to provide points having various cross-sectional configurations. In this method, the original wall thickness is retained so that the point remains as strong for pulling through the drawing die as the main body of the tube. This method as provided by previously known apparatus does, however, have various disadvantages. For example, the collapsed portion occasionally lacks symmetry about the longitudinal axis of the tubing and therefore subjects the tubing to stress concentrations which often cause breakage of the pointed end of the tube during drawing. The minimum diameter point able to be attained because of machine and die design for certain relationships of tube outside diameter and wall thickness is sometimes too large to be repeatedly inserted through a considerable number of successively smaller dies. The folded configuration is of such a nature that the squeezing effect during the subsequent drawing operation tends to flatten or squash the point rendering it unsuitable for additional drawing operations. Finally, in some cases two or more strokes are required to form the point. This machine requires a rather complicated die design consisting of a number of component parts which are always subject to wear and `breakage due to the high forces involved. Considerable time and ability is required to adjust the machine for different size points.

Accordingly, as an overall object, the present invention seeks to provide tube pointing apparatus for collapsing the end of tubing into a generally circular cross section substantially smaller than the cross section of the tubing.

"atent Si@ Patented Apr. 8, 1969 Another object of the invention is to provide tube pointing apparatus which effects pointin-g of tubes in a single stroke.

Still another object of the invention is to provide tube pointing apparatus wherein the pointed tube is automatically disengaged from the forming dies and is therefore easily removed from the apparatus.

Another object of the invention is to provide tube pointing apparatus wherein during the pointing operation, the dies move while the tube remains relatively stationary, thus, considerably simplifying the handling equipment required to support the relatively long tubes during the pointing operation.

Still another object of the invention is to provide means by which the spacing between the two movable die members may be varied so that the die members will produce different diameter points on the tubing without the necessity of making a complete tooling change.

A further object of the invention is to provide tube pointing apparatus of novel construction permitting the several die components to be readily and easily interchanged with corresponding die components of different size whereby tubes of various diameters may be pointed to different point sizes.

A still further object of the invention is to provide apparatus Vfor pointing tubing into a generally circular cross section which is sym-metrical about the longitudinal axis of the tubing.

In accordance with the present invention, tube pointing apparatus is provided comprising an upper die block supported for reciprocal vertical movement relative to a stationary lower die member. The die block has an elongated recess within which is supported a pair of laterally spaced die members having upper vertical faces and lower inclined faces positioned opposite one another. Shim members are interposed between the die members and the walls of the recess. The spacing of the die members may be varied rby providing shim members of different thickness. Hence, the die members are easily adapted to produce different diameter tube points.

The side die members are slideable over the shim members and are vertically shiftable relative to the die block. The die members, thus, are arranged to converge when lifted upwardly relative to the die block and to diverge when lowered relative to the die block. An upper die member is positioned between and supported by the upper ends of the side die members. The recess provided in the die lblock has an upper transverse wall arranged to limit the converging movement of the side die members and thus maintain them in a predetermined spaced relationship wherein the distance between the vertical faces is less than the width of the tube being pointed.

The upper vertical faces and the lower inclined faces of the side die members, form with the upper die member an inverted Y-shaped trough. The lower die member is positioned directly beneath the upper die and is arranged to support the end of a tube `whereby when the die block is forced downwardly, the tube is forced into successive engagement with the lower inclined faces, the upper vertical faces and nally the upper die member. When the pointing operation is completed, the die block is raised at which time the side die members undergo diverging movement under the iniiuence of gravity, to release the pointed tube. Means is provided for disengaging the pointed tube from the side die members in the event the side die members do not diverge under the inuence of gravity. The tube pointing apparatus also is provided with upper and lower transition dies which cooperate to form a transition taper in the tube between the deformed and undeformed portions of the tube.

The tube pointing apparatus of the invention is so constructed that the several die members are readily removable. The relative ease with which the several die members may be removed permits a rapid conversion of the apparatus for producing tube points of different diameters. As is known, metal normally is deposited on the inner surfaces of the side -die members during the tube pointing operation. The side die members may be easily removed for the purpose of bufng their inner surfaces thereby removing metal build-up.

The above and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a front elevation view of the tube pointing apparatus of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a side View of the tube pointing apparatus of the invention, with portions cut away to show details;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line III-III of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view, taken along the line IV--IV of FIG. 2, illustrating the relative positions of spaced side die members and an upper die member when said members are in a normally diverged position;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view, similar to FIG. 4, illustrating the relative position of the side die members and the upper die member of FIG. 4 when in a converged position;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken longitudinally through the dies of the present tube pointing apparatus, illustrating the pointing of the end of a tube;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view, similar to FIG. 6, illustrating means for disengaging the pointed tube from the forming dies; and

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary isometric view illustrating the configuration of a tube pointed in the apparatus of the invention.

POINTING APPARATUS- GENERAL DESCRIPTION Referring now to FIGS. 1 3, inclusive, there is illustrated a tube pointing apparatus indicated generally by the numeral 10. The tube pointing apparatus 10 comprises an upper die block 12 secured to and supported by a suitable thrust member 14 for vertical, reciprocal movement. That is to say, the die block 12 is forced down wardly to point the end of a tubing and thereafter raised into the normally elevated position illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. The arrow 15 represents the force, as applied by the thrust member 14, during the pointing operation. The die block 12 includes an elongated recess 16 (FIG. 1) extending the entire length of the die block 12. Housed within the recess 16 is a pair of side die members 18, 20 each of which rests on a support plate 22 secured to the die block 12. The side die members 18, 20 are provided with upper vertical portions 24 and lower inclined portions 26 on their inner surfaces 28 and are normally disposed in a spaced-apart relation. As will be described later in the specication, the side die members 18, 20 are adapted to undergo converging upward movement relative to the die block 12 during the pointing of a tube and to undergo diverging downward movement relative to the die block 12 when the die block 12 is lifted.

As can best be seen in FIG. 3, an upper die member 30 is positioned between the upper ends of the side die members 18, 2t), and is supported on shoulders 32 provided therein. A retaining plate 34 is secured to the upper surface of each of the side die members 18', 20 and extends laterally over the upper die member 30 for retaining the same in the space btetween the retaining plates 34 and the shoulders 32. The upper die member 30 is provided with an elongated, downwardly opening concave die surface 36 which, as will be described, cooperates with a similarly shaped lower die surface in collapsing the wall of a tubing for pointing the same. The upper die member 30, the upper vertical portions 24 and the lower inclined 4 portions 26 of the side die members 18, 20 define an inverted Y-shaped trough 38 through which the end of a tube, to be pointed, is received, as will be described.

Below the support block 12 there is provided a base 40 supporting a stationary lower die member 42 having an elongated, upwardly opening concave die surface 44 formed at its upper end. The concave die surfa-ce 44 is positioned directly beneath the concave die surface 36 of the upper die member 30 and cooperates therewith in collapsing the wall of an end portion 46 of a tubing 48. As can be seen in FIG. 3, the tubing 48 is supported on the lower die member 42 and is positioned to be received within the inverted Y-shaped trough 38. As will become apparent, the tube 48 remains relatively stationary during the pointing operation. Hence, the equipment required to support the relatively stationary tube 48 is considerably simplified.

When the end portion 46 of the tubing 48 is pointed, die means normally is provided to form a transition taper between the deformed and undeformed portions of the tube 48. Consequently, projecting forwardly of the die block 12 and rigidly secured thereto is a support block 50 adapted to support at its lower end an upper transition die member 52. The upper transition die member 52 iS provided with a cylindrical inner die surface 54 terminating in a tapered inner die surface 56. The tapered inner die surface 56 terminates in an apex end -58 having the same size and arcuate configuration as the elongated, downwardly opening concave die surface 36 of the upper die member 38. Disposed directly beneath the upper transition die member 52 and rigidly supported on the base 40 is a lower transition die member 60 preferably formed in two components to provide a cylindrical inner die surface 62 and a tapered inner die surface 64. The inner die surface 64 terminates in an apex end 66 having the same size and arcuate configuration as the elongated, upwardly opening concave die surface 44 of the lower die member 42.

Ahead of the lower transition die member there is provided a ring member 68 through which the tubing 48 extends. As will be described, the ring member 68 provides means for disengaging the tubing 48 from the side die members 18, 20 when the die block 12 is being elevated into the normally raised position as illustrated in FIGS. l and 2.

MOTION OF DIE MEMBERS 18, 20 AND 30` As can best be seen in FIGS. 1 and 3, the recess 16 provided in the die block 12 has inclined inner surfaces 70 which, if extended, would converge at a point above the upper die member 30. The side die members 18, 20 have outer surfaces 72 which are inclined at the same angle as the inclined inner surfaces 70. Interposed between each pair of inner and outer surfaces 70, 72 is a Shim member 74 over which the side die members 18, 20 are easily slideable. Each shim member 74 rests at its lower end on the support member 22 and is engaged at its upper end with a crossplate 76 (FIG. 4). The shim members 74 are thus retained in the position illustrated. It should be noted that the spacing between the upper vertical portions 24 of the side die members 18, 20 may be varied simply by providing shim members of appropriate thickness. Hence, the tube pointing apparatus may be easily adapted to produce dilerent tube point diameters.

As can best be seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, a space 78 is provided between the sides of the upper die member 30 and the upper ends of the side die members 18, 20. The spaces 78 permit the side die members 18, 20` to move laterally into engagement with the upper die member 30` during upward movement relative to the die block 12. That is to say, as the side die members 18, 20 slide over the inclined shim members 74, they will undergo a converging movement until such time as the yretaining plates 34 engage the crossplate 76, as shown in FIG. 5. As this time, the side die members 18, 20 will have moved toward each other into engagement with the sides of the upper die member 30. Further, engagement of the side members 18, 20 with the crossplate 76 maintains the vertical portions 24 spaced apart by a distance equal to the maximum width of the elongated, downwardly opening concave die surface 36 of the upper die member 30. It should be noted at this time that since the side die members 18, 20 are engaged with the upper die member 30 and since the retaining plates 34 are engaged with the crossplate 76, the upper die member 30 and the side die members 18, 20 are in a rigid position and serve to collapse the wall of the tube being pointed.

When the pointing operation is completed, the die block 12 is Vraised whereupon the side die members 18, 20, fall under the inuence of gravity, relative to the side block 12 and diverge so as to release the pointed tube. The side die members 18, 20 will, of course, be positioned in the position shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, that is, in spacedapart relation.

POINTING OF TUBING 48 As can be seen in FIG. 2, the tu-bing 48 has its end portion 46 supported by the lower die member 42 and is engaged with a positioning member 80. The positioning member 80 is supported by a rod 82 extending through a releasable clamping device 84. By releasing the clamping device 84, the positioning member 80 may be positioned at any point along the length of the die surface 44 of the lower die member 42. Hence, the length of the end portion 46 which is to be pointed is determined by the position of the positioning member 80 with respect to the lower die member 42.

With the tubing 48 in the stationary position illustrated in FIG. 2, the die block 12 is lowered whereby the end portion 46 thereof is sequentially engaged -by the inclined portions 26, the vertical portions 24 of the side die members 18, 20 and finally by the upper die member 30. When the die block 12 has reached the lower limit of its stroke, the end portion 46 will have been collapsed into .the generally circular cross section illustrated in FIGS. 6-8, inclusive. Furthermore, the tapered inner die surfaces 56, 54 of the upper and lower transition dies will have provided a transition taper 86 between the deformed and undeformed portions of the tubing 48.

When the pointing operation has been completed the die `block 12 is raised. Normally, the side die members 18, 20 will, under the influence of gravity, undergo downward diverging movement and will release the pointed end of the tubing 48 automatically. However, in the event the side die members 18, 20 do not diverge under the inuence of gravity, the undeformed portion of the tubing 48 will engage the ring member 68 and prevent further upward movement thereof as illustrated in FIG. 7. Consequently, as the die block 12 continues to move upwardly, the tubing 48 will be stopped lby engagement with the ring member 68, so as to cause the side die members 18, 20 to move downwardly relative to the die block 12 and therefore release the tubing 48. When the die block 12 reaches its normally raised position, the pointed tubing 48 may be withdrawn from the ring member 68 and a new tubing inserted therethrough in position for pointing.

The results of pointing a tubing with the tube pointing apparatus is illustrated in FIG. 8. As can be seen, the end portion 46 has been collapsed into a generally circular cross section which is substantially less than the cross section of the undeformed portion of the tubing 48. Furthermore, the end portion 46 is substantially symmetrical about the longitudinal axis 88 of the tubing 48 and, therefore, the end portion 46 is not subjected to stress concentrations resulting from unysmmetrical pointed ends.

As stated above, the tubing 48 remains relatively stationary during the pointing operation. The tubing 48 does move downwardly during pointing, however, only through the relatively small distance represented by the spacing 87, best shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, between the outer surface of the tubing 48 and the die surface 44 of the stationary lower die member 42. In view of the relatively small amount of movement the tubing 48 is required to undergo, it should be evident that the handling equipment which supports the relatively long tubing 48 is considerably simplified. That is, the tube handling equipment employed with the present tube pointing apparatus 10 is not designed to permit large downward deflection or movement of the tubing 48 as is required in most prior art tube pointing apparatus.

INTERCHANGEABILITY OF DIE COMPONENTS Another particularly important feature of the tube reducing apparatus of the present invention is the interchangeability of the various die components, That is to say, the components may be readily and rapidly removed, for example, for the purpose of buiIing the surfaces 24, 26 clean of metal build-up. However, this feature also permits the die components to be exchanged with corresponding die components of other sizes. Therefore, the present tube reducing apparatus may be rapidly adapted to produce different size points.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, it will be seen that keys 89A and 89B are secured to the thrust member 14 and a support member 90, respectively, and are symmetrical about a vertical plane indicated by the dash-dot line 91 in FIG. l. The keys 89A, 89B extend into corresponding keyways cut in the die block 12 and the base 40. Hence, the vertical plane 91 extends through the center of the die block 12, the base 40 and all of the die components supported thereby.

As can also be seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, the support block S0 is provided with spaced grooves 92 extending axially thereof along its entire length and in which is received anges 93 formed on the upper sides of the upper transition die member 52. The grooves 92 are symmetrically spaced about the plane 91. The upper transition die member 52 is thus slideable axially of the support Iblock 50 into and -out of the grooves 92. In order to retain the upper transistion die member 52 connected to the support block 50, there is provided a tab 94 which is pivotal about a fastener 96. The tab 94 is of sufficient length whereby when it is secured in the vertically oriented position illustrated in full outline in FIGS. 1 and 2, it extends over one of the flanges 92 and a portion of the upper transition die member 52 to retain the same within the grooves 92. However, when the fastener 96 is loosened and the tab 94 is elevated into, for example, the position illustrated in dashed-dot outline, the upper transition die member 52 is free to be slid out of the grooves 92.

As can also be seen in FIG. l, each of the shim members 74 is provided with an opening 98 which communicates with an enlarged access opening 100 provided in the die block 12. Furthermore, each of the side die members 18, 20 are provided with bores 102 adapted to receive a tool for extracting the die members 18, 20 from the recess 16 or moving the side die members 18, 20 toward and away from each other. Consequently, when the upper transition die member 52 has been withdrawn from the grooves 92, the side die members 18, 20 each may be withdrawn from the recess 16. It should be noted that the shim members 74 may be withdrawn independently of the side die members 18, 28 simply by moving the side die members 18, 20 toward each other and thereafter introducing a suitable implement through the access opening 100 to engage the opening 98.

It should be evident then that the die components associated with the die block 12 may be easily removed for reconditioning or replacement with corresponding components of a size to suit requirements for producing a different size point.

Referring now to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, and in particular to FIG. 3, the lower die member 42 is secured to a saddle 104 having a bottom portion 106 including oppositely extending flanges 108. The bottom portion 106 is positioned within an elongated U-shaped recess 110 which extends axially throughout the length of the base 40 and which is symmetrical about the vertical plane 91. The saddle 104 engages a pedestal 112 on top of which is secured the clamping device 84. The bottom of the pedestal 112 also resides within the elongated U-shaped recess 110 and is secured therein by means of clamping plates 114 (only one visible in FIG. 2) disposed on either side of the pedestal 112 and secured to the base 40.

Extending ahead of the clamping plates 114 are second clamping plates 116, one each on either side of the U- shaped recess 110. The second clamping plates 116 are engaged over the anges 108 and retain the saddle 104 connected to the base 40. Ahead of the saddle 104 and the lower die member 42 is an intermediate base member 118, best shown in FIG. 1, having outwardly extending flanges 120 positioned within the space between the second clamping plates 116 and the bottom of the U-shaped recess 110. At the forward end of the base 40 is a retaining plate 122 having one end pivotal about a fastener 124 and having a slot 126 cut in its other end which fits over a second fastener 128. As can be seen in FIGS. l and 2, the width and position of the retaining plate 122 is such that it iS engaged over the forward end of the intermediate base 118 so as to prevent the intermediate base 118 and, hence, the lower die member 42 from sliding out of the U-shaped recess 110. When the retaining plate 122 is disposed in the position shown in full outline, the fastener 124 is tightened. When the fastener 124 is loosened, the retaining plate 122 may be rotated thereabout into the position illustrated in dash-dot outline. When the retaining plate 122 is at the dotted-outline position, the intermediate base 118 and the lower die member 42 may be slid out of the U-shaped recess 110.

As can best be seen in FIG. 1, the intermediate base 118 is provided at its upper end with opposed grooves 130 defining a way 132, best shown in FIGS. l and 2. The lower transition die member 60 as well as the ring member 68 each are provided with outwardly extending anges 134, 136, respectively, on each side thereof, which are received within the opposed grooves 130. Consequently, the lower transition die members 60 and the ring members 68 are slideable into and out of the way 132 so as to connect the same or disengage the same from the intermediate base 118. A retaining plate 138 is pivotal at one end about a fastener 140 and is provided with a slot 142 at its other end which ts over a second fastener 144. When the retaining plate 138 is secured in the position shown in full outline, it extends over the forward face of the ring member 68 thereby preventing the ring member 68 and the lower transition die member 60 from sliding out of the way 132. However, when the fastener 140 is loosened, the retaining plate 138 may be rotated to the position shown in dash-dot outline. At this time, the ring member 68 as well as the lower transition die member 60 is free to slide out of the way 132 provided in the intermediate base 118.

In the present tube pointing apparatus the die block 12, the base 40 and all of the die components or tools associated therewith are substantially symmetrically disposed about the vertical plane 91. Therefore, when the various die components are removed for reconditioning, their replacement is accomplished simply by inserting the die components into the corresponding places. Similarly, replacement die components, i.e., die components of a different size, also are replaced in the same manner. The important fact to note is that the present tube pointing apparatus does not require complicated alignment apparatus or skilled workers for operating the same.

Although the invention has been shown in connection with one specific embodiment, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes in form and arrangement of parts may be made to suit requirements without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

We claim as our invention:

1. In apparatus for pointing the ends of tubing, the combination comprising: a die block supported for forced vertical reciprocal movement and having an elongated recess, a pair of side die members supported in said recess in laterally spaced-apart relation, an upper die member positioned between and supported by the upper ends of said side die members, said side die members having upper vertical faces and lower inclined faces opposite one another and which form with said upper die member an inverted Y-shaped trough, said vertical faces being spaced apart by a distance which is less than the Width of said tubing, a stationary lower die member arranged to support said tubing and press the same through said inverted Y-shaped trough and subse quently against said upper die member during the forced lowering of said die block, and abutment means disposed above said tubing and engageable thereby for disengaging said tubing from said side die members during upward movement of said die block.

2. In apparatus for pointing the ends of tubing, the combination comprising: a die block supported for forced vertical reciprocal movement and having an elongated recess, a pair of side die members supported in said recess in laterally spaced relation, an upper die member positioned between and supported by the upper end of said side die members, said side die members having upper vertical faces and lower inclined faces opposite one another and which form with said upper die member an inverted Y-shaped trough, said vertical faces being spaced apart by a distance which is less than the width of said tubing, a stationary lower die member arranged to support said tubing and press the same between said inclined faces into the space between said vertical faces and subsequently against said upper die member during the forced lowering of said die block, said upper die member and said lower die member having elongated concave die surfaces opening into said inverted Y-shaped trough, and a ring member through which said tubing is passed as it is placed on said lower die member prior to a pointing operation, the ring member serving to disengage the tubing from the side die members during upward movement of said die block.

3. In apparatus for pointing the ends of tubing, the combination comprising: a die block supported for forced reciprocal vertical movement and having an elongated recess, a pair of spaced-apart side die members positioned within said recess and being rvertically shiftable therein, an upper die member positioned between and supported by the upper ends of said side die members, said side die members and said upper die member being horizontally and axially slideable into and out of said recess, means carried by said die block for retaining said side die members and said upper die member within said recess, said side die -members being provided with upper vertical portions and lower inclined portions on their inner surfaces which form with said upper die member an inverted Y-shaped trough, a base member, a lower die member connected to said base for horizontal and axial sliding movement relative to said base, releasable means carried on said base for retaining said lower die member connected to said base, said lower die member being positioned to support the end of said tubing for sequential engagement by said inclined portions and vertical portions of said side die members and said upper die member, and abutment means disposed above said tubing and engageable thereby for disengaging said tubing from said die members during upward movement of said die block.

4. In apparatus for pointing the ends of tubing, the combination comprising: a die lblock supported for forced reciprocal vertical movement and having an elongated recess, a pair of laterally spaced side die members positioned within said recess and being vertically shiftable therein, an upper die member positioned between and supported by the upper end of said side die members, said side die members and said upper die member being horizontally and axially slideable into and out of said recess, said die block having an axially projecting portion extending above said side die members, an upper transition die member connected to said axially projecting portion and slideable axially thereof, said upper transition die member being engaged with said side die members, releasable means on said axially projecting portion for preventing disengagement of said upper transition die member and hence said side die members from said die block, an elongated base member extending parallel to the axes of said upper transition die member and said upper die member, a lower die member connected to said base for horizontal sliding movement axially thereof and being positioned directly beneath said upper die member, a lower transition die member connected to said base for sliding movement axially thereof and engaged with said lower die member, releasable means carried -by said base for preventing sliding of said lower transition die member and hence said lower die from said base, said side die members being provided with upper vertical portions and lower inclined portions on their inner surfaces which form with said upper die member an inverted Y-shaped trough, said lower die member being arranged to support the end of said tubing for sequential engagement 4by said lower inclined portions and said vertical portions of said side die members and said upper die member, said upper and lower transition die members cooperating to form a transition taper in said tubing between the deformed and undeformed portions of said tubing.

5. The combination of claim 4 including means for disengaging said tubing from said `side die mem-bers during the lifting of said die block, said disengaging means comprising a ring ymember carried at the end of said lower transition member opposite to the lower die member.

6. In apparatus for pointing the ends of tubing, the combination comprising: a die block supported for forced reciprocal vertical movement and having an elongated recess, a pair of laterally spaced side die members positioned within said recess and being vertically shiftable therein, an upper die member positioned between and supported by the upper ends of said side die members, said side die members and said upper die member being horizontally and axially slideable into and out of said recess, said die block having an axially projecting portion extending above said side die members, an upper transition die member connected to said axially projecting portion and slideable axially thereof, said upper transition die member being engaged with said side die members, releasable means on said axially projecting portion for preventing disengagement of said upper transition die member and hence said side die members from said die block, said side die members being provided with upper vertical portions and lower inclined portions on their inner surfaces which form with said upper die member an inverted Y-shaped trough, an elongated base member extending parallel to the axes of said upper transition die member and said upper die member, a lower die member connected to said base for horizontal sliding movement axially thereof and positioned directly beneath said upper die member, an intermediate base member connected to said base for horizontal sliding movement axially thereof, releasable means carried on said base for preventing disengagement of said intermediate base and hence said lower die member from Said base, a lower transition die member connected to the top of Said intermediate base for horizontal sliding movement axially thereof, and means carried by said intermediate base for preventing disengagement of said lower transition die member from said intermediate base, said lower die member being arranged to support the end of said tubing for sequential engagement by said lower inclined portions and said vertical portions of said side die members and said upper die member, said upper and lower transition die members cooperating to form a transition taper in said tubing between the deformed and undeformed portions of said tubing.

7. In apparatus for pointing the ends of tubing, the combination of a die block having an elongated trough, a pair of side die members positioned within said trough, said `side die members being vertically shiftable within said die block trough, each of said side die members being provided with inclined and vertical surfaces arranged in spaced relation to form a Y-shaped cavity between the lengths of said side die members, said Y-shaped cavity having an entrance end into which tubing to `be pointed is inserted, the vertical surfaces of said side die members being spaced apart less than the diameter of said tubing, a first die positioned between a portion of the vertical surfaces of said side die members, a second die arranged to press said tubing from a cradled position between the inclined surfaces of said side die members into the space between said vertical surfaces and subsequently against said lirst die, and upper and lower transition dies adjacent the ends respectively of said pair of side die members and said second die at the entrance end of said Y-shaped cavity for forming a transition taper in said tubing between the deformed and undeformed portions of said tubing, said upper and lower transition dies being separable from said side die mem-bers and said second die respectively, each transition die having a generally cylindrical portion and a tapered portion intermediate the cylindrical portion and said side die members and said second die respectively.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,504,771 8/1924 Mallory 72-427 X 2,141,736 12/1938 Castle 72-414 2,767,763 l0/1956 Anderson 72-404 X 3,025,905 3/1962 Haerr 72-475 X 3,292,414 12/1966 Goeke 72-413 X CHARLES W. LANHAM, Primary Examiner. E. SUTTON, Assistant Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R. 72-413, 427 

